Devanampiya Tissa

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Devanampiya Tissa

Tissa (later Devanampiya Tissa , Sinhalese දේවානම්පිය තිස්ස රජ , Tamil தேவநம்பிய தீசன் ; ruled ~ 307 BC – 267 BC) was one of the earliest kings of Sri Lanka who ruled in the ancient capital Anuradhapura . During his reign, Buddhism arrived in Sri Lanka under the leadership of the Maurya ruler Ashoka . The main source for the events of his reign is the Mahavamsa , a chronicle that goes back to the older Dipavamsa .

Domination

The royal family of King Devanampiya Tissa and Prince Uththiya.

Tissa was the second son of Mutasiva of Anuradhapura . The Mahavamsa describes him as “first among all his brothers in virtue and intelligence”.

The Mahavamsa writes of a friendship with Ashoka. Chapter IX of the Chronicle states that “the two monarchs Devanampiyatissa and Dhammasoka had been friends for a long time, even if they never met.” The chronicle says that Tissa sent gifts to the mighty ruler of the Maurya; In return, Ashoka not only had gifts delivered, but also the message that he had converted to Buddhism and he asked Tissa to accept this belief as well. The king initially took the name "Devānaṃpiya" ("lover of the gods") and was proclaimed king of Lanka in a splendid ceremony.

It is said that Devanampiyatissa's younger brothers Uttiya and Mahasiva were his successors. His other brother Mahanaga, Prince of Ruhuna, was the founder of the principality of Ruhuna .

Conversion to Buddhism

Mihintale, according to tradition, the site of Devanampiya Tissa's conversion.

The Indian ruler Ashoka had a great interest in spreading Buddhism. So he sent his son, Mahinda , to Sri Lanka to convert the people to Buddhism. The events of Mahinda's landing and his meeting with the king are among the most important legends in the history of Sri Lanka.

After the Mahavamsa, King Devanampiyatissa was on a hunt with 40,000 soldiers near Mount Mihintale . Traditionally the date is given as the full moon day of the month Poson .

When he came to the foot of Mount Missaka , Devanampiyatissa hunted a deer into a thicket where he met Mahinda (Thera). The Mahavamsa writes that the king was 'frightened' and convinced that the thera (monk) was in truth a 'yakka' (demon). However, Thera Mahinda stated, “We are hermits, O great King, disciples of the King of Dhamma (Buddha). Out of compassion for you alone, we came here from Jambudipa. ”Devanampiyatissa remembered the message from Ashoka and realized that they were missionaries from India. Thera Mahinda preached to the king and his companions and led the king on his path to Buddhism.

Major religious events

Various deeds are attributed to the king. First of all, the introduction of Buddhism to Sri Lanka after the arrival of Thera Mahinda and his group. In addition, the planting of the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi in Mahamevnāwa Park in Anuradhapura and the establishment of the Bhikkuni Sasana (order of Buddhist nuns) after the arrival of Theri Sangamitta and her group. He donated the Mahamegavana Palace to the Buddhist monks, where the Udayagiri Raja Maha Vihara Monastery was built. This became the center of Theravada Buddhism. He also had the Thuparamaya (Thuparama, pagoda with the Buddha's right collarbone) built.

Holy places

Thuparama in Anuradhapura.

Due to the age and the scarce sources, as well as the inaccessibility of the holy places for archaeological research, it is difficult to determine the truthfulness and the effects of Devanampiyatissa's government and conversion. In addition, there is information about the temple Tissamahavihara and several other temples that the king is said to have built, but none of them can be reliably located.

However, the location of the first meeting with Thera Mahinda is fairly certain. This place is one of the holiest places in Sri Lanka to this day, Mihintale . The sacred precinct also includes the Ambasthala (Mango Tree Stupa), where Thera Mahinda asked the king a series of questions to test his wisdom, as well as the cave in which Thera Mahinda is said to have lived for forty years and the Maha Seya stupa which to house a relic of the Buddha.

Devanampiyatissa also built Tissa Wewa , an irrigation pond with an area of ​​222.5 hectares (550 acres). The dam alone is 3.2 km long and 7.6 m high. To this day, the basin is an important element of the irrigation works around Anuradhapura.

meaning

Devanampiyatissa is one of the first important monarchs of Sri Lanka and his conversion to Buddhism set the course for the kingdoms of the island, so that the religious and cultural development differed greatly from the development on the Indian subcontinent. Later rulers often referred to Devanampiyatissa's conversion as one of the cornerstones of Anuradhapuran society. The city itself remained the capital of a powerful kingdom until the Middle Ages, when it finally lost its importance in the Chola invasion and was replaced by Polonnaruwa .


literature

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ^ "Foremost among all his brothers in virtue and intelligence" [1]
  2. ↑ "the two monarchs, Devanampiyatissa and Dhammasoka, already had been friends a long time, though they had never seen each other." Dhammasoka is an alternative form of the name for Ashoka.
  3. ↑ Keown, Hodge & Tinti 2003: 72. There 'Devānampiya Tissa' is translated as 'dear to the gods'.
  4. ↑ Recluses we are, O great King, disciples of the King of Dhamma (Buddha) Out of compassion for you alone have we come here from Jambudipa .
  5. ↑ Further details .
  6. ↑ Thuparama .
  7. ↑ vipassana ; mahavamsa .
  8. ↑ Tissa Wewa .
predecessor Office successor
Mutasiva from Anuradhapura King of Anuradhapura
307–267 BC Chr. 		Uttiya from Anuradhapura
personal data
SURNAME Tissa, Devanampiya
ALTERNATIVE NAMES දේවානම්පිය තිස්ස රජ (sinhala); தேவநம்பிய தீசன் (tamil)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION King of Kandy on Ceylon
DATE OF BIRTH around 307 BC Chr.
DATE OF DEATH 267 BC Chr.